In William Shakespeare's Measure for Measure, the Austrian city of Vienna serves as a dejected setting of vulgarity, prostitution and draconian rule, but for one band, the city represents something much more romantic.
Find Vienna, a pop-rock band from North Wales, Pa. will perform at noon Friday on the first floor lounge of the HUB-Robeson Center as part of the Student Programming Association (SPA's) Noontime Concert Series.
Paul Mencel, bassist for the band, said he sees Vienna as a symbol for finding the things people love in perfect harmony.
"We mean to find true love, whether it be the typical love or a love of music or a love of basketball," Paul Mencel said.
Singer Patrick Mencel said the group -- originally named Clarity-- changed its name because of copyright issues, following the departure of a band member and a change in style musically. He likes that if someone types "find vienna" into Google, the only thing that will pop up is information on the band.
The band came together as friends while the members attended North Penn High School in Lansdale. Although they were all in different grades in school, the group formed in 2008 when drummer Mark McGuire was a senior.
Even though his biological brother is in the band, Patrick Mencel said he considers the rest of the band as brothers as well.
"Anything that goes on in anyone's personal lives, we're aware of it," he said. "Being in a band is hard enough as it is -- if it was just you, handling that kind of pressure is kind of hard."
Since that time, Wilmington, Del.-based radio station 93.7 WSTW nominated the band as the Best New Artists of 2008. It has also recorded in Nashville for an EP and toured around the United States.
Zack Krieger, the SPA's Noontime Concert Chair, said he listened to the band's music and became a fan instantly, comparing its sound to Coldplay and U2.
"This band has some potential," Krieger said. "It's definitely one of the bigger concerts of the Noontime Concert Series this year."
Although the band just came off of a long tour, Patrick Mencel said the band is eager to travel to Penn State in order to develop a following. Krieger called the HUB a good launching pad for bands looking to develop a following in State College among students, away from the monotony of bars looking to book cover bands.
One of the concert series' goals is to take bands and get them to play in a different setting that is actually on a college campus, Krieger said.
Paul Mencel said the band is excited to play at the HUB, and even though most students will probably be studying and eating, the band is ready to try to get and keep these students' attention.
"It's not like we're going to start a food fight or anything, but we're going to be doing stuff to keep people interested," Paul Mencel said.
Although not a new band, Paul Mencel said the name change has been tough because they need to create a new fan base and inform their old fans of the name change.
Krieger said he expects Find Vienna to draw a good crowd because of the group's concert at SoZo, 256 E. Beaver Ave., last week. The band has toured in State College since before it changed its name.
